Famous political party switchers

October 22, 2013 |Julie Ruff, mySA.com

A Bexar County court-at-law judge elected during the 'red tide' of 2010 is switching parties.

JERRY LARA/San Antonio Express-News

Carlo Key

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Citing the recent federal shutdown, County Court-at-Law No. 11 Judge Carlo Key (right) said Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, that he is joining the Democratic Party and will seek re-election as a Democrat in November 2014. “Make no mistake, I did not leave the Republican Party, it left me,” said Key, flanked by high-ranking Democrats Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and Texas Sen. Leticia Van de Putte. “My principles have led me to the Democratic Party, and my only hope is that more people of principle will follow me.” Click ahead to see other politicians who famously switched parties, some more than once.

Citing the recent federal shutdown, County Court-at-Law No. 11 Judge Carlo Key (right) said Monday, Oct. 21, 2013, that he is joining the Democratic Party and will seek re-election as a Democrat in November 2014. “Make no mistake, I did not leave the Republican Party, it left me,” said Key, flanked by high-ranking Democrats Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and Texas Sen. Leticia Van de Putte. “My principles have led me to the Democratic Party, and my only hope is that more people of principle will follow me.” Click ahead to see other politicians who famously switched parties, some more than once.